Hyperbaric chamber fire

[Squirrel Girl]

Well, this isn't exactly diving related, but I figure anything hyperbaric hits close to home.

http://southflorida.sun-sentinel.com...,2546779.story

[FW]

Scary!

[DogDiver]

Just a little more information: I work at the Hyperbaric Chambers in Gainesville and I'm sure there will be more information Monday. Note that this was a Non-Hospital based Free Standing facility that was not accredited...Ken


Posted on Sun, May. 03, 2009
Tourist dies; boy still critical
BY RACHEL HATZIPANAGOS
Sun Sentinel

An Italian tourist badly burned in an explosion at a Lauderdale-By-The-Sea clinic died this morning. Her 4-year-old grandson, who was with her in the private clinic's oxygen chamber, remains in critical condition.
The cause of Friday's explosion at the Ocean Hyperbaric Oxygen Neurologic Center is under investigation, officials said. Three of the hyperbaric chambers were taken as evidence and will be looked over by experts, said Broward Sheriff's Office spokesman Mike Jachles.

The victims were identified by the Sheriff's Office today as Vincenza Pesce and Franchesco Martinizi, both of Italy.

Pesce's death was the first from an oxygen chamber explosion in the United States, industry officials said.

''These treatments have been around for 50 years, and it's a very safe treatment if done correctly,'' said Hope Fine, who owns and operates a Deerfield Beach hyperbaric clinic called the South Florida Center for H.O.P.E..

Oxygen chambers, also called hyperbaric chambers, are commonly used to treat diving injuries and various other illnesses and wounds.

Pesce and Martinizi were flown to Jackson Memorial Hospital's burn unit Friday. They both had serious burns over 90 percent of their bodies. Family from Italy have traveled to South Florida to visit them, Jachles said.

There are about a half-dozen free-standing hyperbaric clinics in South Florida, said Shannon Kenitz, director of the Hacienda Heights, Calif.-based International Hyperbarics Association, which issues safety guidelines for clinics. About four of South Florida's hyperbaric clinics are approved by the IHA, Kenitz said; the center where the explosion occurred is not among them.

Unless a clinic is approved as a Medicare provider, there is no state regulation of the centers, Fine said.

The chambers used at the clinic appeared to be older, Jachles said. Investigators do not yet know if any charges will be filed.

Individual clinics are required to keep track of maintenance records, Fine said. She said she urges patients seeking treatment to request the clinic's maintenance records for the chambers. The manufacturer of her equipment preforms once-a-year maintenance, Fine said.

''The particular chamber that they showed on the news they haven't made in 30 years,'' she said.

The center was founded in 1972 by Dr. Richard Neubauer, who died in 2007. Corporate records list his widow, Winnie, 83, of Pompano Beach, as its current manager. She could not be reached for comment Saturday.





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© 2009 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.miamiherald.com

[ed pavey]

I would be careful to condem free standing chambers as there are a lot of the hospital chambers that send managers, doctors and operators to a one week class and now they are experts. Just an observation...

[ninjadoc47]

to respond in general, I also work at a hospital based chamber, was also a navy diver, and worked in the commercial and a doctor in Jacksonville, fl on 'off label' treatments. No one is recognizing this chamber operated for more than 30 years without an incident and that the founder( God rest his soul, he died a couple of years ago) has done more for the advancement of hbot than many in the field now, to cosign for the other quote , people are sent to one week of training and are 'experts'.

Let's not slam someone when all the intel is not out there. As far as accredited, I'm assuming you mean medicare, cause many hospital based chambers are niether Dan or UHMS accredited, so to avoid any confusion or more heresy, this was an isolated incident the background on the the staff that I know of they are all straight shooters, so unfortunately , someone dropped the ball , but this should no way reflect on the outstanding track record the clinic has maintained . Hope all is well for the family and the little boy. God bless everyone. Cheers..Manny